Impact of New Disruptions on Academic Leadership

Abstract

Academic leadership is often measured in relation to the amount and success of change and growth. In bringing about change in the academic setting, leaders can benefit from disruptions just as much as their counterparts in commerce. In this chapter I illustrate approaches to change using disruptions as examples of catalysts or prompts for action. Universities offer an idiosyncratic environment where tradition and ceremony are valued, but flexibility and responsiveness are needed to survive. In treading the line between these contradictory tensions, leaders need to find ways to engage with stakeholders, to secure trust and confidence, so that short-term disadvantages are accepted in return for long-term improvements.

Citation

Popovic, C. (2022), "Impact of New Disruptions on Academic Leadership", Blair, A., Evans, D., Hughes, C. and Tight, M. (Ed.) International Perspectives on Leadership in Higher Education (International Perspectives on Higher Education Research, Vol. 15), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 221-236. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-362820220000015012